Community orchard prepares for autumn

A volunteer-led orchard in Warminster has been a hive of activity recently with an apple pressing day and improvements to its entrances and seating areas.

Residents took part in an apple pressing day at Warminster Community Garden on Saturday 26th September, juicing apples grown in the orchard over the summer.

Orchard lead Jennie Gilling said, “With such a dry summer, it was uncertain how much of a crop there would be at the end. The lack of rain to swell the fruit plus the heat meant that the trees shed more fruit earlier than normal.

“Nevertheless, the volume produced was more than expected. Several people brought their own apples to be pressed and everyone went away with plenty, with some of the nearby residents being given some too.

“The event was held on the day of the Harvest full moon. The wonderful water-pressurised press, which is hired from Codford Community Orchard, never fails to impress. It is a fast-moving scene, with the apples checked before being chopped and pressed, with the juice immediately pouring out into containers.

“It all involves teamwork. The Redlove varieties which grow on the orchard produce wonderful claret-coloured juice and this is always done as a separate session. Vince from Rutts Lane Cider was there teaching some of the volunteers who will run it next year.

“The event is free to all and runs on donations. There’ll be mulching of the trees as an autumn task, as well as a rain dance.”

A new noticeboard has also been installed by the main entrance off Boreham Road, featuring an updated map of the orchard’s trees.

The shape and letters were cut by members of the Community Shed in the Wilson and Kennard Yard.

Jennie said, “They had done such a good job of making the Roarminster sign, that I knew they were the right people for the job.”

The entrance fences at two access points have also been replaced by the parks team at Warminster Town Council.

The council also donated two benches, with one offering views across the hills and the other providing a shady spot beside the birch tree.